China responds to US congressmen with new military maneuvers around Taiwan – La Razón

After the recent tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the visits of international delegations to the island are in the eye of the hurricane. Especially if they are from the US Just two weeks after the controversial visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, another delegation of congressmen has traveled to Taiwan. According to a statement, the visit was aimed at “reaffirming US support for Taiwan” and “promoting stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait.” Related news The delegation, led by Republican Senator from Massachusetts Ed Markey, landed in Taipei on Sunday night. Democratic lawmakers Don Beyer, John Garamendi and Alan Lowenthal, and Republican Aumua Amata Coleman accompanied Markey. The visit was generally quite private, presumably for security reasons given the uncertainty of a response from China. The delegation met with Taiwan President Tsai Ing Wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on Monday. behind closed doors without press. During her meeting, Tsai Ing Wen thanked the delegation for the US support and the visit to the island at a “key moment”. “In these uncertain times,” Congressman Markey said. “We must do more to ensure peace and stability in Taiwan. We have a moral obligation to actively prevent any unnecessary conflict, and Taiwan has shown incredible self-restraint and prudence in responding to this very difficult time.” stability in the Indo-Pacific region” as well as “deepen trade relations with like-minded democracies and create a more resilient supply chain.” He stressed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine had highlighted the threat of authoritarian regimes to the world order, adding that China’s recent military exercises around the island had “severely disturbed” peace and stability. Just 20 hours later Upon arrival, the delegation concluded its stop in Taipei, which was part of a tour of the Indo-Pacific. The visit had been planned for months before Pelosi decided to include Taiwan on her route two weeks ago. However, China’s Defense Ministry called the delegation’s trip an “ambush visit” that “violates China’s sovereignty and the territorial integrity of China,” a statement reported. Beijing did not hesitate to respond to the unexpected visit with a new round of military exercises in the vicinity of Taiwan, without specifying when they would end. On Wednesday, the Chinese military pledged to “regularly carry out” additional patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait. On this occasion, the number of boats and planes in the vicinity of the island increased. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense recorded the activity of five Chinese ships and 30 planes, 15 of which crossed the median line, an unspoken border in the strait that had been respected until last week. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin urged the US “not to cause further harm to Sino-US relations and to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” “China will take firm and resolute measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Wang warned. That Taiwan receives visits from international delegations is something usual and normal, that until Pelosi’s trip they had not had this type of response from Beijing. China considers Taiwan a province with an illegitimate government, destined for reunification with Beijing, which is why it condemns US shows of support – military or diplomatic – for the island as “provocation.” The White House has reiterated on several occasions since announcement of Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan that there are no changes in the US’s “One China” policy and that Washington recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. Washington seems to have made a firm decision to show its support for Taiwan now, in another of its demonstrations of complex diplomatic ambiguity. Both territories launched the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade at the end of June, with the indicating a mutual desire to advance their economic and trade relations. Last Friday, Kurt Campbell, the coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, said they were “developing an ambitious road map for trade negotiations” with Taiwan. Relations between the two were consolidated after the passage of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which Congressman Ed Markey voted in favor of. Markey also chairs the House Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, and has almost direct influence on military relations with Taiwan. Probably one of the reasons why China gets so angry. Another congressional delegation may visit Taiwan at the end of the month.